Rearview mirror

ABSTRACT

A remote control actuating mechanism for adjusting the angular position of an outside vehicle rearview mirror. The mechanism comprises a master control device and a slave device, each having a piston reciprocable within a cylinder. Closed hydraulic circuits connect the two devices so that when the control piston is manually moved in one direction or the other, there is a corresponding movement of the slave piston. A rack and gear connection between the slave piston and the mirror causes the mirror to be angularly adjusted in response to movement of the slave piston.

United States Patent House [541 REARVIEWMIRROR [72] Inventor: John I.House, 27201 Wellington Drive, Franklin, Mich. 48025 [22] Filed: Jan.15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 106,688

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1 Y 188/67 511 Int.Cl. .;...Fl5b7/00,Fl5b 15/26 58 FieldofSearch..,.;..60/54.5;l88/67;92/l5' [S6] l References Cited" l v UNITEDSTATESPATENTS 3;47's,911 11/1969 Harrison ..-....;..60/ 54. s' 2,924,9432/1960 Dickinson 2,502,780 4/1950 2, 8l9,406 1/1958 Freck ing, Jr. etal"1 88/67 3,013,392 12/1961 Falge etal. ..60/54.5 2,787,235 4/1957Schroeder so/54,5

[ 5] Nov. 14, 1972 Primary Examiner-Martin P. Schwadron AssistantExaminer -A; M. Zupcic Attorney-Whittemore, Hulbert & Belknap [57]ABSTRACT A remote'control actuating mechanism for adjusting the angularposition of an outside vehicle rearview mirror. The mechanism comprisesa master control device and a slave device, each having a pistonreciprocable within a cylinder. Closed hydraulic circuits connect thetwo devices so that when the control piston is manually moved in onedirection or the other, there is a corresponding movement of the slavepiston. A rack and gear connection between the slave piston and themirror causes the mirror to be angularly adjusted in response tomovement of the slave piston.

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hlllllllll i'lllllllllh' 4 m m l Ill I26 I22 I INVENTOR JOHN l. HOUSEATTORNEY REARVIEW MIRROR SUMMARY or THE INVENTION One object of thisinvention is to provide a remote control actuating mechanism foradjusting the angular position of an outside vehicle rearviewmirrorwhich utilizes closed hydraulic circuits to produce the angularadjustment of the mirror in both directions.

Another object is to provide a remote control actuating mechanism havinga master control device and a slave device both of the piston andcylinder type and connected by closed hydraulic circuits so that manualmovement of the control piston in either direction will produce acorresponding movement of the slave piston.

Another object is to provide a remote control actuating. mechanism whichis positive in operation through the utilization of closed hydrauliccircuits.

Another object is to provide an actuating mechanism in which virtuallyall lost motion is eliminated.

Another object is to provide an actuating mechanism having improvedmeans for locking the mechanism in any selected position within itsrange of adjustment.

Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent asthis description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

I FIG. 1 is a plan view of the actuating mechanism including the mastercontrol device, slave device and connecting hydraulic lines, showingthese devices in section.

FIG. 2 is a view of the mirror shown in elevation mounted on the slavedevice shown in section, and also showing the means for mounting theslave device and mirror on the side or on the door of a vehicle.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the control device looking upwardly in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but shows the parts in a locked position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the remote controlactuating mechanism includes a control device 10, a slave device 12,closed hydraulic circuits l4 and 16 connecting the two devices, avertical rearview mirror 18 angularly adjustably mounted on the slavedevice, and a bracket assembly 20 for mounting the slave device andmirror outside the vehicle on the door or side 22 thereof. The remotecontrol mechanism for the mirror is particularly designed for use inconnection with trucks and buses.

The master control device comprises an elongated tubular casing 24having a reduced extension 26 at one end. A cylinder 28 of uniformcircular cross section is provided in the casing extending from anintermediate point in its length through the end of the reducedextension 26. A piston 30 is rotatable and reciprocable within cylinder28.

A tubular cap 32 is threaded on the extension 26 of casing 24 whereindicated at 34. The cap 32 has a chamber 36 communicating with thecylinder 28. The annular wall 38 in the casing and the annular wall 40in the cap define the ends of the cylinder 28 and also define the limitsof movement of piston 30.

The cap 32 has a pressure port 42 communicating with chamber 36 at oneside of piston 30 and also a filler port 46. The casing 24 has apressure port 50 communicating with the cylinder 28 at the opposite sideof the piston as well as a filler port 54.

The casing 24 has an elongated cylindrical socket or chamber 58 at the.end opposite extension 26. The piston rod 60 extends from piston 30through the passage 62 into socket 58. An elongated knurled knob orhandle 64 has a socket 66 at one end receiving the end of the piston rodand secured thereto by pin 68. The handle extends beyond the end of thecasing so that it may be operated by hand to move the piston 30 back andforth in cylinder 28.

The handle 64 has an enlarged circular locking portion 70 within socket58. The locking portion 70 is of a slightly smaller diameter than thesocket 58 and in one angular position thereof as viewed in FIG. 3 isconcentric with and therefore free and clear of the socket wall.However, the axis 71 of piston rod 60 is eccentric or offset withrespect to both the socket wall and the locking portion 70 so that uponangular or turning movement of the handle the locking portion will wedgeor lock upon the chamber wall as seen in FIG. 4.

Suitable O-ring seals 73 are provided for the piston 30, between thecasing extension 26 and cap 32, and in casing 26 around piston rod 60.

The slave device 12 comprises a casing 72 having a body portion 74 and acover portion 76 which are preferably fastened together as by the bolts78. The body 74 has an elongated cylindrical opening 80 in one endthreadedly receiving an elongated tubular plug 82. The plug 82 has acylinder 84 extending from the annular wall 86 within the plug to theouter end of the plug beyond the casing. A tubular cap 88 is threaded onthe outer end of the plug and has an annular wall 90 defining the otherend of cylinder M. The piston 92 is reciprocable within cylinder 84within the limits provided by walls 86 and 90. The piston 92 andcylinder 84 are the same diameter as piston 30 and cylinder 28 of thecontrol device 10.

The cap 88 has a chamber 93 which communicates with one end of cylinder84 and which has a pressure port 94. Chamber 93 also has a bleeder port98. The body 74 of the slave device has a pressure port 102. This port102 communicates with the opposite end of the cylinder 84 throughpassages 104 in the plug 82. There is also a bleeder port 108communicating with the same end of the cylinder 84.

74 where it is threadedly connected to a rack 114. The

rack is in mesh with a gear segment 116 secured by a spline connectionto a shaft 118, the upper end of which has a mounting 120 secured to thelower end of the mirror 18. The shaft 118 is journaled for rotation inthe casing 72 by the bearing sleeve 121. The spline connection betweenthe shaft 118 and gear segment 116 permits initial adjustment in theangle of the mirror depending on whether the mirror is mounted on theright or left side of the vehicle.

As seen in FIG. 2, the mounting 20 for the mirror assembly includes aplate 122 bolted to the slave device 12. A vertical shaft 124 runsalongside the mirror and is pivotally connected to the plate 122 by abolt 126. The upper end of the shaft 124 is pivotally connected by abolt 128 to an arm or plate which is pivotally connected by fastener 132to the upper end of the mirror. The bolts 126 and 128 apply sufficienttension to retain the angular adjustment of the plates 122 and 130although permitting a manual change in the adjustment. Not only is themirror thus adjustable angularly about shaft 124, but it is alsoadjustable angularly about the common axis of shaft 1 18 and fastener132. Mounting arms 134-140 serve to mount the shaft 124 to the side ordoor of the vehicle.

Suitable O-ring seals 141 are provided for the piston 92 between plug 82and cap 88, in plug 82 around piston rod 1 and between plug 82 and body74.

The hydraulic circuit 14 connecting the two devices 10 and 12 includes aflexible conduit 144 having fittings 146 and 148 at the endsrespectively threaded into the pressure ports 42 and 94 of the devices10 and 12. The hydraulic circuit 16 includes a flexible conduit 150having fittings 152 and 154 at the ends respectively threaded into thepressure ports 50 and 102 of the devices 10 and 12. The fittingscommunicate through the pressure ports with the cylinders 28 and 84 inthe devices 10 and 12 at opposite sides of the pistons therein so thatthe hydraulic circuits 14 and 16 are closed circuits.

Filler plugs 156 and 158 are threaded into the filler ports 46 and 54inthe control device 10. Bleeder plugs 160 and 162 are threaded into thebleeder ports 98 and 108 in the device 12. These plugs are removable tofill the circuits with hydraulic fluid and to bleed air from thecircuits.

It will be understood that the two hydraulic circuits will normally becompletely filled with hydraulic fluid introduced through the tillerports. Any air in the circuits should be bled away at the bleeder portsso that the slave device 12 may be operated by the control device 10without any spongeness.

In use, the manual control device 10 will normally be mounted inside thecab of the truck or bus for convenient operation by the driver. He mayangularly adjust the mirror on the outside of the vehicle by simplypushing or pulling the handle 64 to move the piston 30 in the controldevice 10 one way or the other. This will produce a build-up of pressurein one of the hydraulic circuits and cause a similar movement of thepiston 92 in the slave device 12, producing the angular movement of themirror through the rack and pinion connection 114,116. At the same timethat hydraulic fluid is pushed from the control device 10 to the slavedevice 12 through one of the closed hydraulic circuits, hydraulic fluidis returned to the control device through the other circuit.

The socket 58 in the control device is sufficiently long so that thelocking portion 70 of the handle is always inside the socket throughoutthe full range of movement of piston 30. Accordingly, in anylongitudinally adjusted setting of the piston 30, it may be locked bymerely turning the handle or knob 64 in either direction from theunlocked position of FIG. 3 to produce a wedging or friction lockingengagement between the peripheral surface of the locking portion 70 ofthe knob and the wall of the socket 58, To reset the mirror, the knob isreleased or unlocked by simply reverse rotating it.

What I claim as my invention is:

1, Remote control actuating mechanism for adjusting the angular positionof an outside vehicle rearview mirror, comprising a master controldevice and a slave device, said control device having a hydrauliccontrol cylinder and a manually operable control piston reciprocabletherein, said slave device having a hydraulic slave cylinder and a slavepiston reciprocable therein, a first closed hydraulic circuit includinga conduit filled with hydraulic fluid communicating at its ends withsaid cylinders at one side of the pistons therein, a second closedhydraulic circuit including a conduit filled with hydraulic fluidcommunicating at its ends with said cylinders at the opposite side ofthe pistons therein, said first and second closed hydraulic circuitsbeing completely sealed against communication with one another in allpositions of said pistons, said control piston having an external knobfor manually moving said control piston in one direction or the otherand thereby effecting a corresponding movement of said slave piston byhydraulic fluid pressure in one of said circuits, means for locking saidcontrol piston in any selected position of adjustment within its rangeof movement to thereby hydraulically lock said slave piston in adjustedposition, said locking means including a smooth annular locking portionof said knob, said knob being rotatable, means on said control devicedefining a smooth annular chamber receiving said locking portion, saidlocking portion being freely received in said chamber in one position ofrotation of said knob and binding on said chamber wall upon rotation ofsaid knob from said one position thereof, and means providing aconnection between said slave piston and said mirror to angularly adjustsaid mirror in response to such movement of said slave piston.

2. Remote control actuating mechanism for adjusting the angular positionof an outside vehicle rearview mirror, comprising a master controldevice and a slave device, said control device having a hydrauliccontrol cylinder and a manually operable control piston reciprocabletherein, said slave device having a hydraulic slave cylinder and a slavepiston reciprocable therein, a first closed hydraulic circuit includinga conduit filled with hydraulic fluid communicating at its ends withsaid cylinders at one side of the pistons therein, a second closedhydraulic circuit including a conduit filled with hydraulic fluidcommunicating at its ends with said cylinders at the opposite side ofthe pistons therein, said first and second closed hydraulic circuitsbeing completely sealed against communication with one another in allpositions of said pistons, said control piston having an external knobfor manually moving said control piston in one direction or the otherand thereby effecting a corresponding movement of said slave piston byhydraulic fluid pressure in one of said circuits, means for locking saidcontrol piston in any selected position of adjustment within its rangeof movement to thereby hydraulically lock said slave piston in adjustedposition, said locking means including a circular locking portion ofsaid knob, said knob being rotatable on the axis of said control piston,means on said control device defining a cylindrical chamber receivingsaid locking portion, said locking portion being eccentric relative tosaid axis, said chamber being eccentric relative to said axis, saidlocking portion in one position of rotation of said knob beingconcentric with and freely received in said chamber but binding on saidchamber wall with a wedging lock upon rotation of said knob in eitherdirection from said one position thereof, and means providing aconnection between said slave piston and said mirror to angularly adjustsaid mirror in response to such movement of said slave piston.

3. The remote control actuating mechanism defined in claim 2 having ahydraulic filler port and a hydraulic 5 bleeder port in each hydrauliccircuit, and removable plugs for closing said filler and bleeder ports.

I I R l

1. Remote control actuating mechanism for adjusting the angular positionof an outside vehicle rearview mirror, comprising a master controldevice and a slave device, said control device having a hydrauliccontrol cylinder and a manually operable control piston reciprocabletherein, said slave device having a hydraulic slave cylinder and a slavepiston reciprocable therein, a first closed hydraulic circuit includinga conduit filled with hydraulic fluid communicating at its ends withsaid cylinders at one side of the pistons therein, a second closedhydraulic circuit including a conduit filled with hydraulic fluidcommunicating at its ends with said cylinders at the opposite side ofthe pistons therein, said first and second closed hydraulic circuitsbeing completely sealed against communication with one another in allpositions of said pistons, said control piston having an external knobfor manually moving said control piston in one direction or the otherand thereby effecting a corresponding movement of said slave piston byhydraulic fluid pressure in one of said circuits, means for lOcking saidcontrol piston in any selected position of adjustment within its rangeof movement to thereby hydraulically lock said slave piston in adjustedposition, said locking means including a smooth annular locking portionof said knob, said knob being rotatable, means on said control devicedefining a smooth annular chamber receiving said locking portion, saidlocking portion being freely received in said chamber in one position ofrotation of said knob and binding on said chamber wall upon rotation ofsaid knob from said one position thereof, and means providing aconnection between said slave piston and said mirror to angularly adjustsaid mirror in response to such movement of said slave piston.
 2. Remotecontrol actuating mechanism for adjusting the angular position of anoutside vehicle rearview mirror, comprising a master control device anda slave device, said control device having a hydraulic control cylinderand a manually operable control piston reciprocable therein, said slavedevice having a hydraulic slave cylinder and a slave piston reciprocabletherein, a first closed hydraulic circuit including a conduit filledwith hydraulic fluid communicating at its ends with said cylinders atone side of the pistons therein, a second closed hydraulic circuitincluding a conduit filled with hydraulic fluid communicating at itsends with said cylinders at the opposite side of the pistons therein,said first and second closed hydraulic circuits being completely sealedagainst communication with one another in all positions of said pistons,said control piston having an external knob for manually moving saidcontrol piston in one direction or the other and thereby effecting acorresponding movement of said slave piston by hydraulic fluid pressurein one of said circuits, means for locking said control piston in anyselected position of adjustment within its range of movement to therebyhydraulically lock said slave piston in adjusted position, said lockingmeans including a circular locking portion of said knob, said knob beingrotatable on the axis of said control piston, means on said controldevice defining a cylindrical chamber receiving said locking portion,said locking portion being eccentric relative to said axis, said chamberbeing eccentric relative to said axis, said locking portion in oneposition of rotation of said knob being concentric with and freelyreceived in said chamber but binding on said chamber wall with a wedginglock upon rotation of said knob in either direction from said oneposition thereof, and means providing a connection between said slavepiston and said mirror to angularly adjust said mirror in response tosuch movement of said slave piston.
 3. The remote control actuatingmechanism defined in claim 2 having a hydraulic filler port and ahydraulic bleeder port in each hydraulic circuit, and removable plugsfor closing said filler and bleeder ports.
 4. The remote controlactuating mechanism defined in claim 3, wherein said means providing aconnection between said slave piston and said mirror includes a rackcarried by said slave piston and a gear segment carried by said mirrorin mesh with said rack.